buccal space anatomy lesions of buccal space imaging buccal space suprahyoid neck spaces boundaries of buccal space

10. Continuous with the temporal fossa

13. a. Anterior compartment-superficial to the parotid
duct
b. Posterior compartment-deep to the parotid
duct, contains specialized syssarcosis adipose
tissue, a remnant of the succatory fat pad that
aids in muscle motion and is of lower CT
attenuation and of higher fat signal on MRI than
all surrounding fat, including the anterior
compartment.
c

14. Four extensions
i. Lateral--follows the parotid duct to the parotid
gland
ii. Medial--between the mandible and the maxillary
sinus
iii. Superior--further divided into deep and superficial
based on relation to the temporalis muscle. The
deep portion is adjacent to the lateral orbital wall,
anteromedial to the temporal tendon. 4 The
superficial portion is between the temporalis muscle
and the SLDCF.
iv. Anterior--superficial to the parotid duct

17. •Parotid duct
a. Separates the buccal space into anterior and posterior compartments
b. Passes through the buccinator muscle at a level opposite the second molar, causing slight retraction of the mucusa and
the submucosal fat
•Facial artery
a. Supplies the nasolabial region; direct branch of the external carotid artery
•Buccal artery
a. Supplies the posterior buccal space; branch of the maxillary artery
b.Enters space through the incomplete SLDCF posteromedially; anastomoses with the facial artery
•Facial vein
a. Located just anterior to the parotid duct along the buccinator muscle
b.Drains the nasolabial region to the external jugular vein via the deep facial vein. Infection may spread from the deep
facial vein to the pterygoid plexus, to the inferior orbital vein, to the cavernous sinus.

18. Nerves
a. Buccal branch of the CN V (sensory to skin and the mucosa of the
buccal space; originates just below the foramen ovale and enters space
through the incomplete SLDCF medially)
b. Buccal branch of CN VII (motor to muscles of facial expression,
originates within the parotid gland and courses parallel to the parotid
duct)
•Lymphatic drainage
a. Buccal nodes to the submandibular nodes to the jugular chain
•Accessory parotid tissue
•Minor salivary (buccal) glands
a. Mucosa covering the inner surface of the buccinator muscle

20. • A transverse enhanced CT scan at the level of the
middle buccal space shows the parotid duct (short
arrows) coursing through the buccal space.
• The angular portion of the facial vein (arrow) and
facial artery (arrowhead) are located anterior to
the duct.
• The buccinator muscle (black arrowheads) is also
noted

29. • Infected dermoid cyst in a 3-year-old girl.
• A coronal enhanced T1-weighted MR image shows the cystic
mass (thin arrow) in the left buccal space.
• The mass has an irregular margin and it has infiltrated into
the surrounding buccal fat pad.
• Note the thickening of the superficial muscles of facial
expression and the investing fascia (thick arrow).

30. • Hemangioma in a 5-year-old girl.
• A transverse T2-weighted MR image shows an irregular
mass (arrows) having high signal intensity involving the
buccal space and the masticator space

45. • Rhabdomyosarcoma in a 15-year-old girl.
• A. A transverse T2-weighted MR image shows a round, well-
demarcated mass of high signal intensity in the right buccal
space.
• B. An enhanced coronal T1-weighted MR image shows the
heterogeneous enhancement of the lesion.

51. • Surgically confirmed metastatic lymphadenopathy in a 71-
year-old man.
• A transverse T2-weighted MR image shows a well-
circumscribed mass (arrow) with central high signal
intensity.
• The patient underwent left partial mandibulectomy due to
squamous cell carcinoma of the gingiva